Loading machine



June 30, 1931.. y F. A. HALLECK LOADING MACHINE Filed June l0, 1927 3Sheets-Sheet l F. A. HALLECK LOADING MACHINE June 30, 1931.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 10, 1927 F. A. HALLECK LOADING MACHINE June30, 1931.

Filed June l0, 1927 3 Shee\.s-Shee l` 3 Patented June 30, 1931 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE FRANK A. HALLECK, F MICHIGAN CITY, INDIANA,ASSIGNOR TO SULLIVAN MA- CHINERY COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTSLOADING MACHINE Application led June 10, 1927. Serial No. 197,951.

This invention relates to loading machines and more particularly tomachines for loading coal in mines.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved coal loadingmachine whereby standing coal may be broken down at the face Withfacility and loaded in an improved manner. Another object is to providean improved coal loadin machine having a toothed roller for raking downthe coal onto the shovel. Another vobject of this invention is toprovide an improved loading machine having a reversible toothed diggingand gathering roller, the roller being rotatable in one direction torake down the loose coal onto the shovel and rotatable in the reversedirection to dig beneath or undermine the coal when large lumps orblocks are encountered. Another object of this invention is to providean improved loading machine having improved means for breaking loose thelumps or blocks of coal standing at the face, and raking the loose coaldown onto the shovel. Still another object is to provide an improvedloading machine having a toothed roller swingable by power and havingimproved mechanism for effecting the rotation of the roller in oppositedirections.

These and other objects of this invention will, however, hereinaftermore fully appear.

In the accompanying drawings there 1s shown for purposes of illustrationone form which the invention may assume in practice.

In these draWings,-

Fig. l is a side elevational view of the 1mproved loading machine.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the loading machine shown in Fig. 1.

Fig.y 3 is a central longitudinally extending vertical sectional view,parts being shown in elevation to facilitate illustration..

Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially online 4--4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view illustrating the toothed roller andone of the side cutter chains and the driving connections therefQr.

Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 6.

F ig. 8 is a detail View illustrating the lock for the roller arm.

In this illustrative construction there is 55 shown a coal loadingmachine of the same general type as that described in my c0- pendingapplication, Serial No. 160,486, filed J an. 11, 1927. and Whichgenerally comprises a frame 1 mounted on endless track laying 60 treads2. Iivotally mounted on the frame 1 at 3 is a. shovel 4 having atransverse pile penetrating edge 5 and side portions 6 While cooperatingwith the shovel is a swingable toothed digging or gathering roller ordrum 7 pivotally mounted at 8 on the l'tlachine frame. This roller rakesthe coal downwardly and inwardly on to the shovel 4. Guided by theshovel 4 and the frame 1 is an endless front conveyor 9 which moves the70 coal rearwardly from the shovel and discharges onto a usual tailconveyor 10.

Improved mechanism is provided for swinging the toothed roller and forrotating the same in opposite directions and such mechanism comprises amotor 11, herein preferably an electric motor, housed Within the frame 1and having its armature shaft 12l horizontally disposed and extendinglongitudinally of the machine. As shown in Fig. 3 80 lixed to theforward end of the armature shaft 12 as at 13 is a bevel pinion 14 whichmeshes with a large bevel gear 15 (see also Fig. 4) secured by a setscrew 16 to a horizontally disposed shaft 17 eXtendin transversely ofthe 85 machine and journaled 1n bearings 18. The bevel gear 15 carries aseries of clutch plates 19 which are interleaved With a series of clutchplates 20 carried by a clutch member 21 threadedly connected to a sleeve22, the 9o latter surrounding the shaft 17 and being jonrnaled in abearing 23. Slidably mounted on the sleeve 22 is a clutch applyingmember 24 which is normally maintained in its applied position by meansof a coiled spring 25 95 encircling the sleeve 22 and reacting against aflange 26 on the latter. The member 24 is adapted to be released againstthe tension of the spring 25 by means of a shipper yoke 27 pivotallymounted on the machine frame. ifm

and having an operating lever 28. Pivotally connected at 29 to the lever28 is an actuating rod 30 extending rearwardly longitudinally of the`machine and suitably. connected through a cross shaft 30a to anoperating lever 31 mounted on the opposite side of the machine (seeFigs. 2 and 3). In accordance with this illustrative embodiment of theinvention the sleeve 22 has keyed thereto at 32 'a spur pinion 33 whichmeshes with a large spur gear 34 fixed at 3 5 to a horizontal hollowshaft 36 extending transversely of the machine parallel with and abovethe shaft 17. The shaft 36 is journaled in bearings 37 suitably carriedby the machine frame and has fixed thereto at 38 chain sprockets 39which are adapted to drive the front conveyor chain 9 in a mannerclearly described in my copending application mentioned above. Fixed tothe hub of the spur gear 34 by a key is a spur gear 40 (see Fig. 5)which meshes with an intermediate gear 41 journaled at 42 on a stubshaft 43 suitably fixed to the machine frame 1. The gear 41 meshes witha spur gear 44 fixed to a shaft 45 and journaled in a bearing 46.Connected to the gear 44 as by a semi-permanent clutch 47 is a spur gear48 meshing with a spur gear 49 rotatably mounted in a bearing 50 on themachine frame. As clearly shown in Fig. 4 the spur gears 40 and 49 haveclutch teeth 51 and 52 j' respectively formed on their inner faces whilesplined at 53 to a shaft 54 and having axial sliding movement relativethereto is a jaw clutch member 55 having `sockets adapted to selectivelyreceive the teeth 51 and 52. The shaft 54 is disposed coaxially with thehollow shaft 36 and is journaled in bearings 56. Cooperating with theclutch member 55 is a pivoted shipper yoke 57 connected through a pullrod 58 extending transversely of the machine to an operating handle 59disposed adjacent the lever 31 heretofore described. As illustrated,fixed by keys 60 to the ends of the shaft 54 are chain sprockets 61engaging endless chains 62 (see Fig. 1) housed within hollow radiallyextending portions 62a of parallel supporting arms 63. These arms 63have rigidly secured to the hollow radially extending portions 62@ as byrivets 63a, or any other suitable securing means, angularly disposeddownwardly inclined portions 635 on the outer ends of which the toothedroller 7 is mounted. The chains 62 engage sprockets 64 rotatably mountedon bearing sleeves 65 supported on a shaft 66 carried by the support-ingarms 63. As shown in Fig. 6 the chain sprockets 64 have secured theretoand rotatable therewith chain sprockets 67 connected through endlesschain connections 68 with chain sprockets 69, the latter being fixed at7() to each end of the roller 7. These chain connections are guided onthe downwardly inclined portions 635 of the roller supporting arms. Theopposite sides ofthe sprockets 69 have formed therein annular grooves 71which cooperate with bearing rings 72 fixed to' the supporting arms 63.These bearing rings 72 form journals for the roller 7. Referring toFigs. 6 and 7 it will be observed that t e roller 7 has traversing thesame a series of staggered openings 73 which receive the Shanks ofdouble toothed bits 74, the bits being lheld in position on the rollerby means of set screws 75. In this instance the endless chains 68 eachcarry a series of reversely positioned cutters 76. The parallel armshave secured thereto at 77 in their inner sides a transverse bracingmember 78 and this member maintains the arms 63 in rigid spacedrelation. It is accordingly'evident that when the friction clutch 19, 20is applied and when the clutch member 55 is suitably connected thetoothed roller 7 may be connected in driving relation with the motor 11to rotate in one direction or the other as desired. In this instance theroller 7 rotates at'the same speed in both directions but it is obviousthat the speed of roller rotation may be varied, it being desirableunder certain conditions to rotate the roller at a higher speed in 011edirection than in the other.

The mechanism for swinging the toothed roller 7 comprises a clutchhousing 79 (see Fig. 4) fixed by a set screw 80 to the shaft 17 Theclutch housing 79 carries a series of clutch disks 81 which areinterleaved with a series of clutch discs 82 carried by a clutch member83 threadedly connected to a sleeve 84 surrounding the shaft 17 androtatably mounted thereon. Mounted on the sleeve 84 andv slidableaxially relative thereto is a clutch applying member 85 with which apivoted shipper yoke 86 cooperates. The yoke 86 is connected through anoperating lever 87 and actuating rod 88 extending rearwardly andlongitudinally of the machine, the rod 88 being suitably connected to anoperating lever 91 disposed adjacent to levers 31 and 59. Againreferring to Fig. 4 it will be seen that the sleeve 84 has fixed theretoat 92 a spur gear 93 meshing with a large spur gear 94 journaled at 95on the shaft 54 and having secured thereto a chain sprocket 96. Thesprocket 96 is connected through an endless chain connection 97 toachain sprocket 98 suitably fixed to a horizontally disposed shaft 99extending transversely of the machine and supported on forwardlyproject-ing brackets 100 suitably carried by the machine frame 1. Theshaft 99 has suitably fixed thereto at the opposite ends thereof spurpinions 101 which mesh with the teeth of gear segments 102 suitablyrigidly secured to the inner sides of the roller supporting arms 63.From the foregoing description it will be evident that when the clutch81, 82 is applied the toothed -roller 7 may be swung upwardly ordownwardly as desired. The toothed roller is iii 'lhe dog 103 is adaptedto engage the teeth on the spur gear 94 and consequently the roller armsmay be locked against downward swinging movement. lVhen it is desired tomove the machine from one working place to l another the shovel 4 may beconnected to the roller arms for swinging movement therewith. Theseconnections comprise a member 107 pivotally mounted at 108 on the shoveland having a hook portion 109 engageable with a lug or pin 110 securedto one of the gear segments 102. lt is obvious that when the hook isconnected to the lug on the roller arm and when the clutch 81, 82 isapplied the shovel may be raised upwardly with the arms 63 by power. Theframe 1 has housed therein a. plural speed transmission mechanism drivenfrom the rear end of the motor 11 and this mechanism is adapted to drivethe track laying treads 2 forwardly at a slow loading speed and at afast forward moving speed and also rearwardly at a fast moving speed. Asthis transmission mechanism is clearly described in my copendingapplication mentioned above, further description is herein consideredunnecessary.

In the operation of the improved loading machine the latter is moved upto the working face at a high speed under the propulsion of the tracklaying treads 2, the roller arms and shovel being held in their elevatedposition at that time by means of the lock 103. When the working face isreached the hook 109 is disconnected from the roller arm and the shovel4 is dropped to the mine floor. The clutch 81, 82 is then applied andthe toothed roller 7 is swung upwardly to the dotted line position shownin Fig. 3. The machine is then fed forwardly until the penetrating edge5 penetrates the pile of coal a. sufficient distance. The operator thenshifts the clutch member 55 into engagement with the clutch teeth 51 onthe gear 40 and consequently the toothed roller 7 is rotated in acounter-clockwise direction (see Fig. 3). Simultaneously the frontconveyor 9 is rapidly circulated within its guides. The lock 103 isthe-n released and the toothed roller is swung downwardly under thecontrol of the friction clutch 81, 82, the rotating roller 7 raking theloose coal downwardly onto the shovel 4 where it is picked up and movedrearwardly by the front conveyor 9. Heretofore in certain instances ithas been found that the coal at the face which has been undercut by thecoal cutter often is not shattered by the shots sufficiently to permitthe toothed roller to rake down the coal, the coal merely sagging by itsown weight in large blocks or lumps to the mine fioor. Vhen suchconditions are encountered the operator momentarily throws out theclutch 19, and shifts the clutch member into engagement with the gear 49and consequently the toothed roller is rotated in a reverse or clockwisedirection (see Fig. 3). The toothed roller 7 is then lowered to theposition indicated by full lines in Fig. 3 and the machine is fedforwardly at a slow speed, the toothed roller digging beneath the blockof coal breaking down the coal at the face and moving the coal in largelumps onto the shovel 4. The side cutters 76 on the chain 68 cutvertical side kerfs of such width as to admit the arms G3 as the rolleris advanced in the coal. It is obvious that if desired the toothedroller 7 may be rotated in a counterclockwise direction as viewed inFig. 3 during the undermining operation and after the roller has beenfed beneath the coal a suitable distance the roller 7 maybe reversed tobreak down the coal onto the front conveyor 9. The roller 7 is notadapted to undercut the solid coal but merely digs beneath the coalsubsequent to the shooting of the coal from the solid. lVhen the loadingat the face is completed the shovel 4 is then again hooked to the rollerarms and the latter together with the shovel 4 swung upwardly and lockedin their elevated position by the dog 103. The machine may then be movedeither forwardly or rearwardly at a high speed to another working place.These and other uses of the improved loading machine will be clearlyapparent to those skilled in this art.

As a result of this invention an improved loading machine is providedhaving a reversible toothed digging or gathering roller for raking theloose coal onto the shovel and for undermining the coal when largeblocks or lumps are encountered. It will further be noted that improvedmechanism is provided for controlling the rotation of the toothed rollerwhich is exceedingly compact and of rugged construction. It will stillfurther be evident that an improved loading machine is provided which iscapable of efficiently handling all sizes and grades of coal.

Vhile l have in this application specifically described one form whichthe invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that thisform of the same is shown for purposes of illustration and that theinvention may be modified and embodied in various other forms withoutdeparting from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a loading machine, a portable body, a shovel thereon, a reverselytoothed gathering roller, parallel arms for supporting said roller forswinging movement relative to said body, said roller being rotatable inone direction to rake down the loose coal onto said shovel and rotatablein the opposite direction to undermine the standing coal at the face, amotor, a conveyor cooperating with said gathering rollcr and shovel andadapted, in either direction of rotation of said roller, to conveymaterial rearwardly from said shovel, and mechanism driven by said motorincluding endless chains carried by said arms for ef-` anism driven bysaid motor for adjusting said roller relative to said conveying means,and mechanism driven by said motor for efecting rotation of said rollerat will in either of opposite directions without reversing said motorand while said conveying means continuously operate in the samedirection.

3. In a loading'machine, a portable body having conveying-means thereonat its forward end and material gathering means cooperating with saidconveying means comprising a motor, said motor also `driving saidconveying means, a reversely toothed roller pivotally mounted on saidbody and swingable to a position closely adjacent said conveying means,mechanism for eiecting swingingpmovement of said roller by power and forpermitting free swinging movement of said roller, and mechanism drivenby said motor for effecting rotation of said roller at will in either ofopposite directions without reversing said motor and while saidconveying means continuously operates in the same direction.

4. In a loading machine, a portable body having conveying means thereon,and material gathering mechanism on said body and cooperating with saidconveying means comprising a motor, a rotary gathering member adjustablymounted on said body and disposable closely adjacent said conveyingmeans and mechanism driven by said motor for efecting rotation of saidgathering member at will in either of opposite directions while saidconveyor continues to operate in the same direction and withoutreversing said motor.

`5. In a loading machine, a portable body,

conveying means on said body, and material gathering means on said bodycooperating with said conveying means for moving the material to beloaded thereon including a motor, a reversely toothed gathering rollerarranged transversely across the front end of the machine, and mechanismdriven by said motor for eecting rotation of said roller in either ofopposite directions without reversing said motor and while saidconveying means continuously operates 1n the same direction,

6. In a loading machine, a portable body having a motor thereon,conveying means on said body and driven by said motor, and materialgathering means on said body cooperating with said conveying means formoving the material to be loaded thereon including a reversely toothedgathering roller arranged transversely across the front end of themachine, and mechanism driven by said motor for ef'ecting rotation ofsaid roller in either of opposite directions without reversing saidmotor and while said conveying means continuously operates in the samedirection.

7. In a loading machine, a portable body having a motor thereon,conveying means on said body and driven by said motor, materialgathering means on said body cooperating with said conveying means formoving the material to be loaded thereon including a reversely toothedgathering roller arranged -transversely across the front end of themachine, and mechanism driven by said motor for eecting rotation of saidroller in either of opposite directions while said conveying meanscontinuously operates in the same direction, and mechanism driven bysaid motor for propelling the machine forwardly at a slow loading speedirrespective of the direction of rotation of said roller.

8. In a loading machine, a portable body having a motor thereon,conveying means on said body and driven by said motor, and materialgathering means cooperating with said conveying means for moving thematerial to be loaded thereon including a reversely toothed gatheringroller pivotally mounted on said body for vertical swinging movementrelative thereto and arranged transversely across the front end of themachine, mechanism driven by said motor for eiecting swinging movementof said roller about its ,pivotal axis, and mechanism driven by saidmotor for effecting rotation of said roller in either of oppositedirections without reversing said motor or said swinging mechanism andwhile said conveying means continuously operates in the same direction.

9; In a loading machine, a portable body having a motor thereon,conveying means on said `body and driven by said motor, a shoveladjustably mounted on said body, and material gathering means mounted onsaid body including a reversely toothed gathering roller mounted on saidbodv for vertical swinging movement relative thereto and arrangedtransversely across the front end of the machine for feeding thematerial to be loaded onto said shovel and conveying means, and lgathering means on said body cooperating with said conveying means formoving the material to be loaded thereon including a motor and areversely toothed gathering roller arranged transversely across thefront end of the machine, and mechanism driven by said mot-or foreii'ecting rotation of said roller in either of opposite directionsWithout reversing said motor and While said conveying means continuouslyoperates in the same direction, said roller rotating mechanism includingmeans operable at Will during running of said motor for reversing thedirection of roller rotation.

11. In a loading machine, a portable body, conveying means on said body,and material gathering mechanism on said bod cooperating with saidconveying means or moving the material to be loaded thereon comprising areversely toothed roller arranged transversely across the front end ofthe machine, parallel arms for supporting said roller for swingingmovement relative to said body, a motor, mechanism driven by said motorfor e'ecting rotation of said roller in either. of opposite directionsWhile said conveying means operates continuously in the same direction,and cutting mechanism driven by said motor for cutting vertical sidekerfs of such Width as to admit said arms as the roller penetrates thematerial to be loaded.

l2. In a loading machine, a portable body, conveying means on sai'dbody, and material gathering mechanism on said body cooperating withsaid conveying means for moving the material to be loaded thereoncomprising a. reversely toothed roller arranged transversely across thefront end of the machine, parallel arms for supporting said roller forswinging movement relative to said body, a motor, mechanism driven bysaid motor and including endless chains supported by said arms fore'ecting rotation of said roller in eithero-opposite directions andcutters carried fsaid chains for cutting vertical side kerfsat each sideof said roller of such Width as to admit said arms as the rollerpenetrates the material to be loaded.

13. In a loading machine, a portable body, conveying means on said body,and mechanism on said body comprising an elongated horizontally.disposed gathering roller arranged transversely across the front end ofthe machine for moving the material to be loaded onto said conveyingmeans, side cutters at each end of said roller, and supporting means forsaid roller, said side cutters cutting kerfs for receiving saidsupporting means as the roller penetrates the material to be loaded, andmechanism for edecting rotation of said roller and said side cutters ineither of opposite directions While said conveying means continuouslyoperates in the same direction.

14. In a loading machine, a portable body,

conveying means on said body, and mechanism on said body comprising anelongated horizontally disposed reversely toothed gathering roller formoving the material to be loaded onto said conveying means, andsupporting means :tor said roller, endless chain side cutters at eachside of said roller, said side cutters being adapted to cut verticalside kerfs in the coal face for receiving said roller supporting meansas the roller penetrates the material to be loaded, and mechanism fore'ecting rotation of said roller and side cutters in either of oppositedirections While said conveying means continuously operates in the samedirection;

l5. In a loading machine, a portable body, conveying means carried'bysaid body, and mechanism on said body comprising an elongatedhorizontally disposed reversely toothed gathering roller arrangedtransversely across the front end of the machine for moving the materialto be loaded onto said conveying means, parallel arms for supportingsaid gathering roller for swinging movement relative to said body,endless side cutters carried by said arms at each end of said roller forcutting kerfs to receive said arms as the roller penetrates the materialto be loaded, and mechanism for electing rotation of saidroller and sidecutters in either of opposite direc-tions While said conveying meanscontinuously operates in the same direction.

16. In a loading machine, a portable body, conveying means carried bysaid body, and mechanism on said body comprising an elongatedhorizontally disposed reversely toothed gathering roller arrangedtransversely across the front end of the machine for moving the materialto be loaded onto said conveying means, parallel arms for supportingsaid gathering roller for swinging movement relative to said body,endless chain cutters. carried by said arms at each end of said rollerfor cutting kert's to receive said arms as the roller penetrates thematerial to be loaded, said side cutter chains also constituting meansfor driving said roller, and mechanism for effecting rotation of saidroller and chain cutters in either of opposite directions While saidconveying means continuously operates in the same direction.

17. In a loading machine, a portable body having a motor thereon,conveying means on said body and driven by said motor, and materialgathering mechanism on said body comprising a movable gathering devicearranged transversely across the front end of the machine for moving thematerial to be loaded onto said conveying means including a gatheringdevice having reversely positioned gathering elements, and mechanismdriven by said motor for eifecting movement of said gathering device. ineither of opposite directions Without reversing said motor and whilesaid conveyin means continuously operates in the same irectlon.

18. In a loading machine, a portable body,

a shovel supported thereby, conveying means carried by said body andshovel, reversely operable material engaging mechanism disposed abovethe plane of said shovel for cooperation therewith, means for drivingsaid material engaging mechanism in one direction to move material tosaid conveyor or to drive it in the opposite direction to dislodgestanding material, means whereby said material engaging mechanism isadapted automatically to have similar working engagement with thematerial irrespective of the direction of movement of said mechanism,and means whereby said conveyor whenever operated is adapted to conveymaterial rearwardly away from said shovel.

19. In a loading machine, the combination with conveying means anddriving means therefor, -of material gathering means cooperating withsaid conveying means for moving the material to be loaded thereon,including a gathering element having its material engaging portionmovable in a generally vertical direction in a closed orbit, and motoroperated mechanismv for eecting movement of the material engagingportion of said gathering element in its orbit in either of oppositedirections while said conveying means operates continuously in the samedirection.

20. In a loading machine, the combination with conveying means anddriving means therefor, of material gathering means cooperating withsaid conveying means including a reversible gathering element having itsmaterial engaging portion movable in generally vertical planes in aclosed orbit, and motor operated mechanism for driving said `materialgathering element in one direction to move material to said conveyingmeans or to drive it in the opposite direction to dislodge standingmaterial, said material gathering means including means whereby saidmaterial gathering element is adapted automatically to have similarworking engagement with the material irrespective of the direction ofmovement of said gathering element.

Intestimony whereof I aix my signature.

FRANK A. HALLECK.

